Terrace View Cafe at Citygarden Downtown to Open Later This Month

James Fiala, who already operates three restaurants in the St. Louis area, will open the Terrace View Cafe, on the northwest corner of the new Citygarden downtown, later this month.

Photo: Nick Lucchesi

James Fiala, owner of Terrace View Cafe, gives the sliding door at the restaurant a test-opening.

Fiala also owns the eleven-year-old Crossing in Clayton, the six-year-old Liluma in the Central West End and Acero in Maplewood, which opened a little more than two years ago.

Fiala says the "best case scenario" is to open the cafe by the July 14 All-Star game. On Tuesday morning, Fiala was at the restaurant. It will feature "Midwestern ingredients with Mediterranean flavors" and include a Mediterranean wine selection.
Inside, there will be room for about 50 diners and ten more at the bar, with room for an additional 60 on the cafe's outdoor patio.

From his other restaurants, Fiala is bringing his beet salad from the
Crossing, his burger from Liluma and his gnudie -- a kind of naked
ravioli -- from Acero.

Admittedly, Fiala is nervous about his newest venture, a project he was
offered just a little more than two and a half months ago by the
Gateway Foundation, the group which financed the Citygarden park that
opens to the public Wednesday.

"I'm nervous and a little overwhelmed. [The Gateway Foundation] built this place from the
ground-up," Fiala said while standing in the dining area, which still
slightly has the feel of a dusty construction site.

To align with the public intent of the park in which Terrace View Cafe
is located, Fiala said its doors will be open to everyone.

"I don't want it to be just for the elites, I want to be able to cook for the people of St. Louis," he said.

The cafe will serve lunch, cockatils and dinner. In September, a "light
organic breakfast" will be added to the menu, according to hand-outs.